Rumors have been persisting about Arsenal being interested in Auxerre’s Paul Georges Ntep and over the last week those rumors have gone into overdrive suggesting a move is close.
Ntep set tongues wagging when he posted a picture of himself enroute to London on the Eurostar on his Instagram page recently. The only London clubs documented to have an interest in the player are QPR and Arsenal and Auxerre’s chairman has cryptically suggested that Ntep might have held discussions with Arsenal while completely ruling out a move to QPR.
But as straightforward as it seems, the chairman has also denied any bid from England taking place while admitting to being in discussion with Rennes; and thus effectively making an already chaotic transfer window all the more chaotic.
Speaking to Get French Football News this is what Guy Cotret, President of Auxerre, had to say:
“I signed a confidentiality clause to which I am bound. All I can say is that I have heard this rumor.”
“This is a complicated transfer to finalize because there are several parts. The willingness of the club, the player’s. We have advanced in negotiations with the French club that I mentioned Sunday. For his part, Paul George is thinking. We are given another 24 hours to come to an agreement.”
“He does what he wants from his weekends. In any case, I read they were talking to QPR. He was not at Queens Park. Was it Arsenal? Without a doubt! I’m not foolish.”
“But in any case, I have no contact with an English club. There is the French club of which I speak has made an offer. After that, maybe the player and his agent have other contacts.”
“We are not at 8 million euros but we are in good negotiations.”
While it is hard to make any sense of what the President is saying he does seem to indicate that the transfer should be concluded quickly.
If Ntep does go to Arsenal he will be the fourth player to make the move from Auxerre after Diaby, Sagna and Sanogo.
